Beaconsfield Dental Practice - Mottingham

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 11 November 2022 under section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered practice was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment,

we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

• The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.
• The practice had infection control procedures. However, improvements were needed to ensure these reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies; improvements were needed to ensure all appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• Improvements were needed to some of the practice’s systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Improvements were needed so that there was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.

Background

The provider has 6 practices and this report is about Beaconsfield Dental Practice - Mottingham.

The practice is in the London Borough of Bromley and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice. The practice has made some adjustments to support patients with additional needs. The principal dentist had undertaken training in the use of British Sign Language.

The dental team includes 2 dentists, 2 dental nurses, 1 trainee dental nurse and 1 receptionist The practice has 3 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 2 dentists, 2 dental nurses and the practice owner. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

9am to 5pm Mondays to Fridays

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care

Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements.

• Take action to ensure clinicians record in the patients’ dental care records or elsewhere the reason for taking X-rays, a report on the findings and the quality of the image in compliance with Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and taking into account the guidance for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment
• Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.
• Improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.
• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.
• Implement protocols for the use of closed-circuit television cameras taking into account the guidelines published by the Information Commissioner's Office.